Don't have a phone?
Can't afford one?
You need a lifeline!
If you or someone you know can't afford telephone service, here is how to throw them a Lifeline.
It’s hard to believe, but Florida has been losing millions of dollars in taxpayer money to other states because low-income older residents were unaware of an important benefit.
Florida law requires that utility companies offer help to lower-income Floridians – of all ages – to pay for basic local phone service.
The service, available through the Lifeline program (not to be confused with the medic-alert system of the same name), could save you $13.50 a month if you qualify.
According to AARP Associate State Director Charles Milsted, almost 1.1 million Florida households could get Lifeline assistance, yet a new state report shows only 12.7 percent have signed up.
“Most people don’t even know they qualify for the program,” Milsted said. Because all states send dollars to Washington to finance Lifeline-type programs, low signup rates in Florida mean that $30 million a year leaves Florida and goes to other states.
More is at stake than money. Some seniors rely on the telephone as their only tool to call for help in case of an emergency – their basic telephone service is literally a “lifeline.”
Thanks to AARP Florida legislators passed a bill during the 2007 legislative session that sets up automatic Lifeline enrollment for lower-income Floridians. Now Florida’s enrollment rate will increase, and consumers will receive a higher return of their own monies. It's a win-win situation!
For more information on the Lifeline program, go to www.floridapsc.com/utilities/telecomm/lifeline .
To learn more about Lifeline Auto-Enrollment, please call AARP Florida Associate State Director Charles Milsted at 1-866-595-7678 or e-mail cmilsted@aarp.org .
AARP Florida
400 Carillon Parkway, Suite 100 - St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Toll Free - All Florida State Offices 866-595-7678
(Fax) 727-571-2278